The possibility of Max Verstappen leaving Red Bull Racing for Mercedes has gathered serious momentum following pointed remarks from former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya and veteran motorsport journalist Peter Windsor.
Montoya dropped a bombshell during recent commentary, declaring that Verstappen should pick up the phone to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. "Max should call Toto Wolff, who would be ready to sign him," Montoya said, before hinting that behind-the-scenes contact between the two parties may already be underway.
Red Bull's difficult start to the 2026 season has left Verstappen battling in unfamiliar territory. The four-time world champion has found himself racing wheel-to-wheel with Haas and Alpine rather than fighting for podiums, a stark reversal from the era of dominance that produced four consecutive titles.
Verstappen has made no secret of his frustration. The Dutchman has openly criticised the current generation of F1 machinery, saying the cars "dilute the challenge of driving" and likening modern racing to "a game of Mario Kart." His admission that he is in Formula 1 "for a good time rather than a long time" has only added fuel to departure rumours.
Peter Windsor offered a more measured but equally compelling perspective. "All roads point to Max Verstappen still joining Mercedes if he's in F1 still," Windsor observed, citing Wolff's strategic influence within the sport and the well-documented personal relationship between the Mercedes boss and Verstappen.
Windsor pointed to private conversations between the pair as evidence of a developing partnership. "Given all the conversations, Max on a yacht with Toto's private yacht talking about partnering with Mercedes — I think if it's Max and Antonelli, all roads point to Mercedes," he said.
Any deal would need to navigate the complication of Kimi Antonelli's remarkable early-season form. The young Italian leads the 2026 championship standings after winning two of the first four races, making him an increasingly difficult driver to displace from the Mercedes lineup.
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Verstappen remains under contract with Red Bull through 2028, though a widely reported performance clause could allow an early exit should he drop outside the top two in the standings. With the RB22 struggling for grip in all conditions and the team's chassis identified as the core problem, that clause looks more relevant with each passing weekend.
The energy deployment controversies that have dominated the early part of the season have particularly irked Verstappen, who values raw driving skill and car feel above automated systems. His philosophical objections to the current regulations run deeper than mere competitiveness.
Neither Verstappen's management nor Mercedes have confirmed any formal discussions. But Montoya's suggestion that the lines of communication are already open, combined with Windsor's confident prediction, paints a picture of a move that may be closer to reality than either party is prepared to acknowledge publicly.
